Parachute drop safety device



Dec. Z,l 1941; J. H. STRONG PARACHUTE DROP SAFETY DEVICE Filed Aug. 6. 1940 4 Sheets- Sheet .1

his Affari-1 5 5 Dec. 2, 1941. j J. H. s-rRoNG 2,264,920

PARACHUTE DRQP SAFETY DEVICE i .Filed Aug. 6, `1940 4 Sheets-Sheet Ja mes fz'. Etrang" v Dee.r 2, 1941'. f J; H. STRONG 2,264,920 PARACHUTE DROP SAFETY DEV-ICE Filed Aug. e, -1940 4 sheets-sheet -s A /'a Y' f7-LVErzi-:inwv :lames H. Strang y his Aturnays D 2, 1941 l J..H. STRONG PARACHUTEDROB vSAFETY DEVICE Filed Aug. 6, 1940, 4 shleets-sh'eqtf-f A. fnVE-Ltar @MESH-M9 Wim His Atiarns Patented Ecc. 2, 1941 naar 'ri-Eo stares enf-raar oFfFficx-E# PARACHTE DROP SAFETY' DEVICE .laines H. fStrong, Windsor, yN. J. Y

Application August 6, 194i), Serial No. 351,585

13 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement an'd training devices of the type shown in application Ser. No, 287,153,1a-nd comprises certain-improve ments in the shock absorbing means-.for cushioning the landing-of the parachute atthe lend of the drop 'and/particularlyorreadily resetting and .holding -the swing 'fina 'convenient unloading and loading position'after it fhasfcome to-rest.V v

In. the apparatusas ybuilt Ifor the' -1939\ New York Worlds Fair, there 'are eleven parachutes providedV v'with passenger carrying swings suspended from 'a steel tower, each with its'own motor and hoisting fcable, 'individually fc'ontrolled and operated from separate flanding` stations Aon theground spaced around the base of the' tower; The parachutes are guidedI througliout` their 'en-4 tire movement up and down by guide 1cables,"of which there are 'eight for each :parachute in the improved apparatus, the' upprer -endsof' whichare shackled to :fittings Vmounted on 'the tower, and the lower ends 'ofwhich *aref :fastened -to -'the ground .by means of turnbuckles so a'sfto 4^befreadily maintained at suflicientf tension "to'fprevent undue-swaying an'di 'belly-ing 'ofthe' parachute canopy.

Inorder to cushion the...parachute and swing at. thel 'endl of the :dropV `upright*posts are 'set alongside of four 'of the guidecab-les'to catch the parachute, each post vbeing-'of 'sufficient height to suspend the swing -clear Aof the' vgrou-nd'wi/hen the ,parachutev is checked atfthe `bottom"o"fits descent. The'cushion'ng is accomplished b'yrubber .shock cords, whichlstretch under th'elweight and momentum of the parachute, swlingfand passengers, and recoil somewhat after -thefalliis checked, thus lifting the 'swingso fhigh' above fthe landing platform that some'rheans 'must be'ip'ro vided for the-assistance of l'the passengers 'ingestting on and off. Thesemean'scoi'nprise'a winch and line adaptedto be hooked on 'to thefsivingto hold it steady and-steps arranged to 'fbeftipped out o'f the way when theyare not needed for-ias-v sisting. theI passengers on and oft. Two `attend-` ants 'have heretofore been requiredf-for#manip ulating the Vwinch and ste'ps because fof fthe height of the rebound duefto thestr'et'ch of theshock absorbing rubbers at the bottom of the drop and the` force .needed to pull the swing rdown'to 'the normal loadingi position iwi-thin .reach of fthe at# tendants. Obviously 4 the shock absorbing.' means must ybe considerably elevated above the'fgroun'd to 'prevent passengers from strik-ing the ground at the bottomfof the drop, and in vorderl'to avoid the need for'toohigh steps and'to '.permitthe (c1. 272;6) level, in my prior-apparatus Athe hand winch was arranged-to pulldown the swing and parachute several -feet to `bring the latter" into the unloading and loading position against the resistance cf -the 5 shock absorbing-means.

Oneof theobjects `of --this inventionis toreduce the distance through -which the swing must be pulled down vafter coming -to rest in order'- to permit passengers toget von-and off 'easilyw-ithou-t the-use of more than threelor foi-insteps.v f

Furtherobjects of the' invention lare'to improve the operation 'of` the cushioningmeans andto permitof ready adjustment-thereof'to suit dif-I ferent' loads and air conditions, makingthea-p-v pa-ratus -safe for operation in all usual weather with y'a minimmn amount of supervision-'and a single lattendant at each loading position` Otheradvantagesand objects of the invention appear 'in "connection withthe fol-lowing description of the illustrative embodiment 4thereof shown in the accompanying drawings-being the `rapparatus in use at the New York` Worlds Fair 1940.-

Inthe drawings',

Fig; 1 is a :side-'elevation 'of the loadingfplate form, parachutswing andshock arresting-ap# paratus showingthe swing in -`th"position` in which it comes-fto-rest'fafter a descent, andthe steps in normal'loading and unloading position;

Fig; I2 is =a vvertical'cro'sssecti'on through the platform; f showing the's'teps;sw-ing 4and operating mechanism' in 'side -elevation in .no'riii'al loading position, 'the' fdotted lines indicating the position of the stepslwhen' tipped "out lof 'the way;

Fig. C3 is a Iplan/ View of the'loadin'g platform.; showing thesteps in normal loading'position;-

Fig. 4 is 'anenlargedxplanview'o the working partsat thecente'r of the platfonn,"showing the stepsy tipped :out of the way for' an assenti' Fig.' 5 is a side view,"and

c6 is a face Viewofone of'thepo'stsand cushioning'apparatiis for' absorbing' 'the vshock on f landing, fthe parts :being "shownl in Y 'normal' loading .position-of the 'swing'j Fig. fz is a'- cmsesetion'on the une 1-1'1'11 Fig."

5, looking in the'directioni of 'thearrow'sg showing the 'snubbing device locked `in positionas'duririgy an lascent Fig. 8 is a plan view of the locking'devicewith the topf plate removed to disclose the'ja'w members and operating f-mean's; -and' A Figs. 9, 10,V 11 and v12 'are' dtails 0f th locking' device 'drawn' to 4a larger scale, Fig. 9l being Ea topi view similar to Fig.` 8, vthe cross-section fbeing fon Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view; and Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section on the line |2|2 in Fig. 10, respectvely.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, the parachute l is guided between the cables |5, I6 by suitable ttings 60, 6|, secured to the skirt of the canopy 51, and freely sliding on the cables. The parachute and its suspended swing |2 are adapted to be raised by the hoisting cable I1, through the medium of the automatic hoisting head which may be like that described in my Patent No. 2,121,413. Turnbuckles 23 are provided for tightening the guide cables, of which there are eight disposed at equal angles from the axis of the parachute. Four posts 22, adjacent to the lower ends of the guide cables l5, support the shock absorbing mechanism and serve to hold the parachute canopy at a sufficient distance above the platform to avoid interference with the swing at the bottom of the descent.

The construction of the parachute is similar to that described in my patent application Ser. No. 287,153 excepting that a flexible cable is sewed into the hem around the skirt of the canopy, replacing the rigid ring heretofore used. Snap hooks 59 secure the fittings 60, 6| to the skirt oi the canopy. This is advantageous in relieving the guide cables and fittings from stresses due to the rigidity of the ring formerly used, and also permits of operating the parachutes in higher winds, as there is no tendency to raise one side of the parachute when the opposite side is depressed by a gust when no rigid ring is used for spreading the skirt of the parachute, and the four additional guide cables |5 provide ample protection against side drafts and air currents tending to collapse the parachute during the ascent and descent.

The hoisting head is guided centrally of the axis of the parachute by means of fittings 3| which slide on the guide cables I6, to which it is connected by tie wires 34 provided with extensible sections 33, and the ttings 3| are supplied with brakes under the control of the wires 52 for locking the heads to the guide cables should the hoisting cable |1 break or cease functioning properly as in my application Ser. No. 287,153.

The swing |2 is preferably made of a light metal frame, supported from a spreader bar |06 by means of reinforced webbing straps |01 and rubber shock members |08 as in my application 'Y Ser. No. 287,153. In order to prevent overturning, the swing side frame bars are extended forwardly and are connected at their ends to the rubber shock members by cables enclosed in metal tubes ||4. A wide webbing strap ||5 is provided for securing the passengers to the seat.

For suspending the swing from the hoisting head and elevating the swing and passengers when the parachute canopy is deflated, a bridle |23 is provided, the upper end of which is connected to the apex tting of the parachute near where it is grasped by the hoisting head and the lower ends of which are attached to the spreader bar |06, as shown in Fig. l. This bridle takes the weight of the swing and passengers during the ascent and relieves the shrouds S6, which support the swing during the normal free descent of the parachute.

At the end of each descent, the parachute swing l2 is suspended at the loading and unloading position from the guide ttings 0|, which are secured to the parachute canopy 51 and run on the guide cables I6, and which bear against the buier ttings 8| also mounted to slide freely on the lower ends of the guide cables |6 near the tops of the posts, these butler ttings being held up by short cables 18 passing over pulleys 11 at the tops of the posts, and secured at their lower ends to the rubber shock cords or snubbers 83 by means of fittings 19, as in the apparatus described in my prior application Ser. No. 287,153.

The lower ends of the shock cords 8U at each post are pinned to a yoke 82, which is connected by a snap hook |4| t0 a short line |42 provided with a locking cone |43 and at the lower end of the line there is attached a weight |44 to which is secured a rubber strap |45 connected at its lower end to a member |43 secured to the ground at the foot of the post, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 7. When the parachute is elevated, the weights |44 pull the cables 13 down until the locking cones |43 are caught by the sliding jaws |41 as shown in Fig. 7, thereby holding the buffer fittings 8| at the tops of the posts ready to catch the parachute guide ttings 6| when the parachute drops.

The sliding jaws |41 are mounted on rollers |43 between top and bottom plates |43, |50, which are secured to the posts by angles |5| supported at their outer ends by struts |52. Springs |53 normally hold the jaws together to embrace the locking cones. For unlocking the locking jaws, lines |54 are provided leading from a treadle |55 near the control mechanism at each loading station to each post, and each line is provided at its end with a bridle |56, the ends of which pass around pulleys |51 at the ends of the bottom plate and are connected by pins |59 on the under side of each sliding jaw. These pins pass through slots |60 in the bottom plate and serve to guide the jaws as well as move them. The springs |53 are also connected at their ends to these pins.

In the operation of the apparatus, assuming that the parachute has landed with the locks in locking position as shown in Fig. '1 and come to rest `at a considerable height above the ground, the attendant tilts the steps |29 into place beneath the swing |2 and hooks on the down haul line |33 to the bridle |38 by means of the pelican hook |21, and immediately steps on the treadle to unlock the locks, whereupon the parachute and swing drop until the weights |44 abut against the stop bars 5| on the posts 22, rubber buiers |62 being provided to soften the impact as shown in Fig. 5. Thereupon the attendant turns the hand winch |35 until the swing is drawn down into position above the steps and securely held for the passengers to disembark as soon as he frees the safety belt.

After the next load of passengers has climbed on to the swing and the safety belt ||5 has been secured by theattendant, the hoisting button on the control switch 29 is pressed and the hoisting cable starts to raise the parachute and swing. This trips the line |23 which unhooks the pelican hook guard |28 and permits the swing to ascend. The lifting of the weight of the parachute and swing frees the shock absorbing blocks and relieves the tension on the shock cords 8D, whereupon the weights |44 pull the locking cones |43 down into engagement with the locking members |41.

Meanwhile the attendant tilts the steps out of the way of the legs of the passengers when the parachute descends, and presses the control button which lowers the hoisting head 30, which follows the parachute down and hooks on automatically after the parachute has come to rest.

The invention is not restricted to the details of construction illustrated, as obviously many i 'j'prisingl exible extensible'f'members and f 'end Lfastenin'gs having two-operating positions, ymeans for lockingr said `endL vfasteningsinv one off-said `operating positions; and-smeansfor releasing said flocking means.

'2. Parachute' apparatuscomprising a canopy, 'Myertically' extending' guide f -members' j spaced f' around l said` j'canopy, `meansl attachedj to'said canoni7 'engaging `said :guidemembers for 'direct- `ing thedescent of said canopy; shock absorbing means slidable alongside of thelower ends of -s'aid f' 'guide' Amembers lfor arresting therdescent offsaid canopy,said shock"v absorbing "meansacomprisin'gf flexible extensible members and end fastenings having two-operating positions, means for locking said end fastenings in one of said operating positions, and means for releasing said locking means, said releasing means being simultaneously operable from a central point.

3. Parachute apparatus comprising a canopy, vertically extending guide cables spaced around said canopy, sliders attached to said canopy engaging said cables for directing the descent of said canopy, buffer sliders engaging the lower ends of said cables for arresting the descent of said canopy, supports alongside the lower ends of said cables, said supports carrying pulleys near their upper ends over which lines are carried to support said buffer sliders, the lower ends of said lines being connected to extensible shock cords, locking means for releasably securing the free ends of said shock cords to said supports, and quick releasing means for said locking means.

4. Parachute apparatus comprising a canopy, vertically extending guide cables spaced around said canopy, sliders attached to said canopy engaging said cables for directing the descent of said canopy, buier sliders engaging the lower ends of said cables for arresting the descent of said canopy, supports alongside the lower ends of said cables, said supports carrying pulleys near their upper ends over which lines are carried to support said buffer sliders, the lower ends of said lines being connected to extensible shock cords, automatic locking means for releasably securing the free ends of said shock cords to said supports, and quick releasing means for manually disengaging said locking means.

5. Parachute apparatus comprising a canopy, vertically extending guide members spaced around said canopy, means attached to said canopy engaging said guide members for directing the descent of said canopy, a passenger carrier suspended from said canopy, suspension means from said canopy directing means to said passenger carrier, shock absorbing means slidable alongside of the lower ends of said guide members for engaging said canopy directing means to arrest the descent of said canopy and passenger carrier, said shock absorbing means h-aving two operating positions in one of which it engages said canopy directing means at a higher lelevation-r'for.zbringing it toY frest'.;witn.the.pas sen'ger-A carrier beforefthe'latter: strikes the :ground and inthe other ofi which it:supportsthecanopy 2 directing-means, Icanopyandzpassengercarrier at 5l a-*lowerfel evatio'rr to. aid in ready access totthe f, i .passenger-carrier from the lground.

l= 6;-Par'achute-apparatusfcomprising aca'nopy, '--Uverti'callywlextending l guide ffmembers L-'spaced -'j aroundsaidcanopy,- means attached tos'aidfcan- 10f'opy1-veng-'aging saidguide members for 'directing I`theZ descent of said canopy, afpassenger carrier suspended vfrom said canopy, suspension; means from said canopy directing means to 'said-pas- -senger- `carrier",L shockv 'absorbingA means slidable alongside *ofthef'lower-f ends ofv said-'guide niemb es forenga'gingsaid canopyv directing means to s ear-rest the descent of; said oanopyandfpassenigen' carrier, Asaid Ashock' -absorbing-meas= 'having -:twofoperating@positions ine/one: ofwhich it engages-said canopy vdirecting means aty a 'higher `levation for'bringing it to 'rest Vwith#the-passenif ger f carriery before'- the f latter strikes* -the' ground r aand in-th'e' other of which it supports thecanopy directing means, canopy and passenger-rcarrier at-'allowerielevation to aid in read-y access to the passengerdcarrierefrom fthe ground,- in-cmbina .Y tion'flvvitlfxl-fautomatic Ymeansfior f locking-` fs'aid shock absorbing means in its higher engaging position when the canopy and passenger carrier guide means are raised from engagement with said shock absorbing means.

7. Automatic locking means for the shock cushioning members of a parachute drop comprising two oppositely movable jaws, spring means tending to hold said jaws together, a tapered circumferentially grooved member mounted on a line connected to a shock cushioning member and guided between said jaws by means adjacent thereto, and means for spreading said jaws against the pressure of said spring, said last named means being actuated from a position remote from said locking means convenient to the control means for said parachute drop.

8. Parachute apparatus comprising vertically extending guide cables, means connected to the skirt of the parachute freely running on said cables, xed posts adjacent to the lower ends of said cables, parachute shock absorbing means supported by said posts, locking devices carried by said posts for securing said shock absorbing means in operative position tocheck the downward movement of the parachute, and means for engaging said locking devices with said shock absorbing means upon the ascent of the parachute.

9. Parachute apparatus comprising vertically extending guide cables, means connected to the skirt of the parachute freely running on said cables, xed posts adjacent to the lower ends of said cables, p-arachute shock absorbing means supported by said posts, locking devices carried by said posts for securing said shock absorbing means in operative position to check the downward movement of the parachute, and means for engaging said locking devices with said shock absorbing means upon the ascent of the parachute, said engaging means including a line attached at its upper end to said shock absorbing means and provided with a weight at its lower end.

10. Parachute apparatus comprising vertically extending guide cables, means connected to the skirt of the parachute freely running on said cables, fixed posts adjacent to the lower ends -of said cables, parachute shock absorbing means supported by said posts, locking devices carried by said posts for securing said shock absorbing means in operative position to check the downward movement of the parachute, and means for engaging said locking devices with said shock absorbing means upon the ascent of the parachute, said engaging means including a line attached at its upper end to said shock absorbing means and provided with a weight at its lower end, said weight serving as a stop to limit and maintain said shock absorbing means in position to hold the parachute at the desired level for convenient access.

v11. A parachute loading station comprising circumferentially spaced vertical guide cables, vertical posts adjacent thereto, shock absorbing snubbers supported by said posts, said snubbers having a snubbing position and a parachute loading position, locks adjacent to said posts for holding said snubbers in snubbing position, and means extending from said locks to a point adjacent the central control means for said loading station for unlocking said locks simultaneously.

12. A parachute loading station comprising circumferentially spaced vertical guide cables, vertical posts adjacent thereto, shock absorbing snubbers supported by said posts, said snubbers, having a snubbing position and a parachute loading position, locks adjacent to said posts for holding said snubbers in snubbing position, and exible means extending from said locks to a point adjacent the central control means for said loading station for unlocking said locks simultaneously, said unlocking means including a treadle operated lever to the inner end of which said exible means converge and are secured.

13. In apparatus of the character described, a post provided with means for positioning a parachute guide cable, a sheave on said post above said positioning means, a block sliding on said cable above said positioning means, a line connected to said block and running over said sheave, ilexible shock absorbing members connected at their upper ends to said line below said sheave, the lower ends of said shock absorbing members being secured to a locking member, automatic locking devices secured to said post in alinement with said locking member, and means to draw said locking member into said locking devices when the pull on said shock absorbing members is diminished by the ascent of the parachute.

JAMES H. STRONG. 

